Cuff type trouser hanger



June 2, 1959 F. H. BEAUCHAMP CUFF TYPE TROUSER HANGER Filed Feb. 28, 1955 INVENTOR.

FH. BEAUCHAMP ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,889,093 Patented June 2, 1959 CUFF TYPE TROUSER HANGER Frederick H. Beauchamp, Rochester, N.Y.

Application February 28, 1955, Serial No. 490,751

4 Claims. (Cl. 223--96) This invention relates to trouser hangers and, more particularly, to an improved trouser hanger of the cuff engaging type made from sheet material.

Various types of cuff-engaging hangers now commonl in use are unsatisfactory for. one reason or another. For

instance, one such hanger comprises a rigid inverted T-shaped member having stiff upended tabs on the opposite ends of the cross-piece for engaging the cuffs of the trousers. This hanger is very effective for trousers made of hard fabrics, such as heavy-weight flannels, but is highly ineflicient with soft light-weight materials, such as cottons or rayons. This is because trousers made of hard fabrics hold their shape when engaged with the upended tabs. However, the cuffs of the trousers made with light-weight materials slip off the ends of the tabs.

Anothersuch current. hanger has a 'fiexible inverted V-shaped element with tabs turned upwardly on the inside of the V. The cuifs of the trousers are inserted up between the tabs inside the inverted V and then permitted to slide down onto the tabs with the tabs engaging in the outside cuff of each trouser leg. Aside from this hanger being comparatively expensive, it is rather complicated, inefiicient and costly.

Some improved hangers appear on the market periodically that partially overcome some of the prior art disadvantages, but in so doing they become so expensive that the average cleaning establishment cannot afford to use them.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to overcome the above-noted disadvantages and to provide an improved trouser hanger of light weight, compact, and inexpensive construction that is simple to manufacture and use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved trouser hanger wherein the weight of the trousers and the particular hanger construction combine to securely and positively support the trousers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a trouser hanger made of sheet material that, when folded according to my invention, is capable of supporting trousers made of either hard or soft fabrics.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the trouser hanger showing one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the hanger shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the hanger with the same in an unfolded or fully extended position.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view similar to Fig. 2 showing the cuffs of a pair of trousers when first placed onto the hanger and in supported position.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawing, there is shown a trouser hanger composed of a piece of sheet material such as cardboard and the like 11 having two appropriately shaped complementary side portions 12 and 13 which are united and folded along their common base line 14. Each side portion 12 and 13 comprises an elongated cross-piece or support arm 16 having a fiat insert member 17 projecting upwardly from the top edge of the opposite end portions 18, 19 of each support arm 16. Said flat insert members 17 are of such a length and height as to fit just to the crease in the cuifs of a pair of trousers so as to neatly engage in the opening between the cuff and the leg of the trouser.

Upwardly extending from, and hingedly fastened to, the top edge of each support arm 16, midway between the respective insert members 17, is an extension member 20 which is hingedly fastened to a hook-shaped member 21. The extension member 20 is adapted to bend slightly at the junction of the base of the hook-shaped member 21 and at the top edge of each support arm 16. The two complementary hook-shaped members 21 may be fastened together by various fastening devices, but the cheapest and most effective device is the ordinary staple 22, one of which may be attached to the outer extreme end of the hook 21 and another may be attached at substantially the deepest part of the curved portion of the hook. This last-named staple 22 will permit the extension member 20and the base of the respective hook members 21 to be bent outwardly at their junction for implementing the insertion of the members 17 into a cuff of a pair of trousers.

The side view, Fig. 2, shows a rhomboid-shaped structure formed by the sides 12, 13 and the two extension members 20. A downward weight on the insert pieces 17 will tend to collapse the rhomboid, bringing the insert pieces 17 close together.

In Fig. 4 the solid line portion of the figure illustrates the preferred manner in which a pair of trousers or slacks 23 may be hung by the cuffs onto the just described new style hanger. The adjacent cuffs 24, 25 of the pair of trousers 23 are positioned over the corresponding flat insert members 17 of the support arms 16, that is, the insert members 17 of the support arm 16 of the side portions 12 are inserted in one cuff 24 and the insert members 17 of the support arm 16 of side portion 13 are inserted in the other cufi 25. The weight of the trousers 23 on the members 17 on the support arms 16 of side portions 12 and 13 is downward against the restraining pull of the extension members 20 at the lower staple 22. Said weight of the trousers will collapse the rhomboid-shaped hanger shown in solid lines in Fig. 4 to the flat form shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 wherein the sides and extension members will be close together for clamping the trouser cufis 24, 25 therebetween for holding the trousers securely on the hanger.

Although any material of a semi-stiff nature may be successfully used, it is preferred that a stiff cardboard be employed. Cardboard is easily punched out in the proper blank, can be readily folded and easily stapled together. This will produce the cheapest, yet one of the strongest hangers. The hangers are easily stored and shipped in the assembled or disassembled condition. Once in the possession of a user, the hangers can be repeatedly reused without creasing the trousers in an unsightly fashion.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide an improved trouser hanger that is light weight, compact and inexpensive. My improved hanger is so constructed that the weight of the trousers not only securely impales the trousers on the members 17 but also causes the trousers to press against each other in a firmly supported condition. The specific embodiment shown is for illustration only and not intended to restrict the scope of the claims. Various modifications can obviously be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A trouser hanger comprising a piece of substantially stiff sheet material having two appropriately shaped side portions united and folded along a common base line, each of said side portions comprising an elongated mem-. ber forming a support arm, longitudinally spaced-apart insert members projecting from each support arm and lying in the plane of each support arm, an extension member upwardly extending from and fastened to each support arnrv substantially midway between the respective insert members thereon, a hook-shaped member fastened to each extension member, and means for fastening the hook-shaped members together whereby the weight: of a pair of trousers having adjacent cuffs supported on the insert members will force the sidelportions and extension members together to clamp the trousers securely in place on the hanger.

2. A trouser hanger formed of substantially stiff sheet material comprising two appropriately shaped elongated side portions united along a common lower base line, a pair of longitudinally spaced flat tab membersprojecting upwardly from an upper edge of each side portion, a hook-shaped member fastened to the top edge of each elongated side portion midway between the respective tab members, and fastening means passing through the hookshaped members remote from the connections to the side portions for holding the hanger assembled so that the tab members may be inserted in the inner cuffs of a pair of trousers whereby the weight of the trousers will force the tab members and side portions toward each other for engaging the cuffs therebetween.

3. A trouser hanger formed of substantially stiff sheet material comprising an elongated base member having o s e PQ Q I icined. t eth along a c mon d thereof, longitudinally spaced-apart upstanding culiengaging tabs formed on an upper edge of each side portion of the base member, a hook member having a lower edge fastened to the centrally located part of the upper edge of each side portion of the base member, and means for fastening said hook members together whereby engaging the tabs into the inner cuffs of a pair of trousers will cause said side, portions, to, move toward each other so that the weight of the trousers will collapse the hanger into trouser-supporting relationship.

4. In a cuff-engaging trouser hanger formed of substantially stiff sheet material, the combination of a substantially rectangularly shaped base member folded upon itself along a longitudinal centerline to form a two-sided V-shaped member, longitudinally spaced-apart insert members projecting from an upper edge of each side of said base member and lying inthe plane of said respective side, a hook-shaped member fastened substantially midway betweensaid insert members to said upper edge of each side of the base member, and: meansfor fastening a remote end portion of the hook-shaped members together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,470,079. Kelsey May 10, 1949 2,562,559, Lyman u July 31, 1951 2,617,565 Suydam Nov. 11, 19 52 FOREIGN PATENTS 5035755 Canada; .-.-t-- June 22, 1954 

